Adelaide Footy League suspends two coaches and eight players for umpire abuse in two weeks

A local footy league has handed out suspensions to both players and coaches for umpire abuse in the past two weeks – and one official says it’s getting worse.

The Adelaide Footy League has sent a firm message it will not tolerate abuse of umpires after handing out 10 suspensions for the offence in the past fortnight.

Two coaches and four players were given bans of at least three matches for umpire abuse by the league tribunal this week.

It followed four players suspended for round 10 offences.

Adelaide Footy League chief executive John Kernahan said the vulgar language directed at umpires would not be tolerated, particularly at a time when the officials were in short supply.

Adelaide Football League chief executive John Kernahan said abuse directed at umpires would not be tolerated. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

An umpire shows a player a yellow card during an Adelaide Footy League match. Picture: AAP/Morgan Sette

“Frankly, some of it (the abuse) would be considered a disgrace in the community at large let alone in the relative safe zone of a footy environment,” Kernahan said.

“We will pick through these people one personal insult directed at an umpire at a time until those who value playing in our competition are the only ones left.

“The value of our umpires to the game is at a premium and they’ll be considered that.

“We will not tolerate it and we’re certainly not going to lose any sleep because some (players and coaches) are being given a rest.”

All 10 of the suspensions in the past fortnight came from reserves or C grade matches.

They included Blackfriars Old Scholars C6 coach Paul Melish and Scotch Old Collegians division two reserves coach Brenton Hales, who received four and three-game bans respectively.

Kernahan said seeing coaches suspended for umpire abuse was “as surprising as it is disappointing”.

One umpire believes the issue of umpire abuse has gotten worse. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

One umpire, who the league did not want to identify, said in an email the problem was “probably the worst it’s ever been” and would “be difficult to eradicate”.

“I just think what’s happening in footy now is a reflection of society’s general increasing lack of respect for authority figures, whether it be coppers, school teachers, or footy umpires,” they said.

“They continually question, criticise, complain and blame those authority figures and won’t accept any advice or responsibility.”

In five years prior to this season, 43 suspensions have been handed out for using abusive, insulting or obscene language towards or in relation to an umpire or failing to leave the ground when directed to do so by an umpire.